Limbe Chieftaincy Saga:

Prince jerry Manga Williams calls for the commissioning of warrant kingmakers to commence Enthronement proceedings.

Barely a week following His notification to the family of victimization orchestrated by his senior brother with more than two criminal court cases accusing him of criminal offenses and Gendarmerie coercion and extortion in an attempt to technically knock him out of the race, Prince Jerry Manga Williams in a correspondence addressed to the administration besought the Authority in charge of 1^st class Chieftaincy in Fako to commission warrant kingmakers.

Prince Jerry Nambeke Manga Williams

In his correspondence, he intimated that the commissioning of warrant kingmakers and a Chieftaincy Advisory Committee will ‘demise the long and lingering stalemate regarding the succession of the last Paramount Chief of Limbe’ and shall be ‘in accordance with the Bakweri tradition of Chieftaincy succession and in recognition of the Cameroon Chieftaincy Law’

The Prince submitted grounds why it should be considered and inferred from historical tradition of the Chieftaincy in Limbe, the kingmakers who made his ancestors in 1908 and in 1961 Kings of Victoria-Limbe and applied that the tradition also requires their successors to act in their stead as kingmakers.. He stated:

1.    That adducing from the various applications from some of the children of the Manga Williams Family vying to succeed the late Paramount Chief, His Majesty Fergusson Billa Manga Williams it is evident that a stalemate exists.

2.    That the lingering and protraction of this stalemate is snowballing into complicating repairable contingencies due to family feuding within the Royal House.

3.    That the underlying setback associated with points one and two above is worrisome and unprecedented and is underlying the following circumscriptions:

   i.    Absence of Paramount stewardship regarding the blueprints and collective codification on Land management and use underlying disastrous consequences of land grabbing and misuse.

     ii.    Multiple court cases involving Chiefs which is unallowed and wanting in remedial blueprints.

   iii.    Degradation of customs and culture is alarmingly notorious and crucial in coordinated strategic planning.

   iv.    Challenge on conservational development is a challenge without centralized coordination.

      v.    Auxiliarization  with Administration on moral development and code of living is in want.

   vi.    Allegations and reports of Gross sales of vast sizes of community land by unauthorized individuals who are acting as delegates of the late Chief.

    vii.    Imposter-ism by third parties acting in the stead of the paramount Chief and fraudulently taking pleasure in prerogatives ascribed thereto.

4.    That the Limbe Chieftaincy traditional procedure usually employed to resolve such a stalemate is the consideration of Candidates to represent members of the Ruling House related by Blood to the last Chief. This is evidenced in the Last Limbe (Victoria) Paramount Chieftaincy stalemate of 1960 between Messrs Fergusson Billa Manga Williams and Ernest Kofele Martin vying to succeed the First Chief of Victoria, Chief Johannes Nambeke Manga Williams. Kingmakers respected the Bakweri  custom and in recognition of the Southern Cameroon Chiefs Law No 7 of 1960 did consider ONLY family members of the Ruling House related by Blood to the last Chief as candidates itself in tandem with the dispositions of the 1977 Cameroon Chieftaincy Law enacted on July 15. 1977 served with decree No. 77/245. In his interview responsions during the meetings with the Advisory Committee, Mr E. K. Martin justified his relationship with the last chief as being the great great grandson of Katherine Martin, who was spouse to Njume, son of Ngombe, himself son of King Bille (King Williams) of Bimbia.

5.    That another item of the Chieftaincy tradition usually employed during the selection of the successor of the next Paramount Chief of Limbe, Victoria is the procedure to enjoin the kingmakers of Victoria (also called chiefmakers) to vote in expressing their opinion on which of the candidate should succeed the late Chief as evidenced by the Administrative meeting presided by J. N. Foncha, The Premier of Southern Cameroon on the 10^th day of May 1960 held at the Community Hall in Victoria amongst kingmakers and his cabinet:

-         J. N. Foncha, M.H.A

-         J. N. Nganji, M.H.A.

-         C. Burgess, S.D.O. Victoria

-         V.Hd. Bona. Bille

-         V.Hd. Bona. Ngombe

-         V.Hd. Bimbia

-         Mr. Mokeba

-         Mr. Carr.

-         Mr. Monjongo

-         Mr. J. Thrupp. S.A.S (LG): Secretary

6.    That in furtherance the ingredients usually employed in determining the successor of the Paramount Chief of (Victoria) Limbe is a confirmation hearing following the choice of the Kingmakers by Chiefs by the Chieftaincy Advisory Committee enjoined to  interviewing the candidates and reviewing their documentary/otherwise claims in camera as evidenced  by the enquiry report authorized by an order under the Recognition of Chiefs Law no 7 of 1960 dated 14^th June 1961 and opened at Community Hall, Victoria on 16^th June, 1961.

7.    Also that it is the tradition of the Limbe Chieftaincy for the son, heir or kin of a Kingmaker to succeed his father upon the latter’s demise. That is in the event of the demise of a Chiefmaker of Limbe, his heir or kin shall succeed him as a Kingmaker. This is adduced from records found in the above quoted proceedings and proffered here-next.

8.    That Victoria Limbe has a tradition in making a Paramount chief through its chief-making composition since 1908 as evidenced by the document titled ‘Memorandum on the Village Heads of Victoria Town’ dated 20^th June 1960 by Hon. John. Ngu Foncha, premier-south Cameroon followed by the inquiry report authorized by an order under the Recognition of Chiefs Law no 7 of 1960 dated 14^th June 1961 and opened at Community Hall, Victoria on 16^th June, 1961 and confirmed in both the Proceedings of the inquiry by the Chieftaincy Advisory Committee into the dispute between FB Manga Williams and E.K Martin regarding the Chieftaincy of Victoria dated 16 June 1961 and the  Report of the Chieftaincy Committee Appointed to inquire into the Victoria Chieftaincy Dispute between FB Manga Williams and E.K Martin dated 9^th September 1961. The following Chief makers were recognized during the selection process of the Manga Williams Chieftaincies of 1908 and 1961. 

            

a.                         a. 1908: in selecting Mr. Johaness Nambeke Manga Williams:

1.    Burnley Family represented by (Mr. Robert Burnley (Late), Joseph Burnley(Late))

2.    Mokeba Family represented by (Mr. N. Mokeba, (Late)),

3.    Martin Family Represented by (Mr. Sam Martin(Late), Mr. Richard martin(Late), )

4.    Steane Family represent by (Mr. Charles Steane(Late), Mr. Richard Steane(Late),)

5.    Wilson Family represented by (Mr. Joseph Wilson(Late).) 

                                                                                                            b.   1961: In selecting Mr Fergusson Billa Manga Williams

1.    Mokeba Family represented by (Mr. Mokeba(Late) )

2.    Carr Family represented by (Mr. Lifio Carr (Late))

3.    Manga Williams Family represented by (Mr Makaka Williams (Late))

4.    The Mojongo Family represented by (Mr. Monjongo (Late))

5.    Bona Bille Village Head represented by (The then chief)

6.    Bona Ngombe HVillage Head represented by (The then chief)

7.    Bimbia Village Head represented by the then Chief

9.    That the traditional Kingmakers of Limbe who voted into Office the last Chief of the Manga Williams Royal House, late chief Fergusson B. Manga Williams have  all passed onto Glory. However by its definition, the Bakweri Tradition requires as evidenced in the above cited reports to proceed with warrant kingmakers in line with the same houses and families that were called upon to choose and endorse the right candidate and in the event where any one of these kingmakers may pass away, their heirs or family heads and representatives should perform these functions in their stead.

10. That considering the foregoing, the 2005-2016 Stalemate of the Limbe Paramount Chieftaincy, shall be demised by the following representations of kingmakers  who have been considered and proposed to bring to a conclusion the selection of the next Chieftain to succeed Late Chief Fergusson Manga Williams. Their role shall include:

a.    To implement the terms of references by the Senior Divisional Officer towards addressing the subject matters of the disputes and selection amongst the pretenders.

b.    To copy cat the 1960 research committee and interviewing the candidates as to arrive at their individual perception of the candidate to be considered

c.    To cast ballots on the grounds of selection and submit individual reports to the Committee president regarding the criteria employed to arrive at their individual choices.

d.    To deliberate with the Committee President to arrive at the chosen candidate with the most consideration

e.    To process the report of the committee

f.     To submit the report to the Senior Divisional Officer for Fako for further Government sanctioning and procedures and report to the Prime Minister of Cameroon

11. That the proposed Chiefmakers for the Limbe Paramount Chieftaincy in compliance with the Cameroon Chieftaincy law of 1977 and in recognition of the tradition that selected the two previous Chieftains of Victoria-Limbe in 1908 and 1961 thereby harmonizing the chiefmakers of the eras are as follows:

1.    Bona Bille Head and two notables

2.    Dikolo Head and two notables

3.    Bona Ngombe Head and two notables)

4.    Manga Williams Family head and two others)

5.    Mokeba Family head and two others )

6.    Carr Family head and two others)

7.    Monjimbo Family head and two others)

8.    Burnley Family head and two Others

9.    Martin Family head and two others

10. Steane Family head and two others

11. Haddison Family

12. Bodylawson Family

13. Wilson Family head and two others

12. That the proposed Chieftaincy Advisory Committee shall constitute seven warrant Chiefs appropriately and relevantly vetted and commissioned by the South West Chief’s Conference themselves warranted by the Senior Divisional Officer for Fako.

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WHY THE MANGA WILLIAMS ARE THE TRUE RULERS OF LIMBE, ERSTWHILE VICTORIA

COMMUNIQUE

IN RE: THE LIMBE CHIEFTAIN

In pursuance of erstwhile and recent face up levied upon the incumbency of the Manga Williams and geared towards circumscribing the grant of leave for enstoolment, Prince Jerry Nambeke Manga Williams representing the Royal family of Manga Williams/Nambeke do depose for the purposes of  information and necessary action in especial to the stakeholdings of Limbe, and generally to all and sundry the following.

Jesco  and his father Chief Johnaness Manga Williams in London. 

1.  GENEALOGY OF LIMBE

In response to rumours that Limbe hitherto Victoria is other than a parcel dismembered from the Bimbia territory, the following should rest for ever the misguidance. The birth of Victoria now Limbe is stitched to the DNA of the British and German protectorates of the land called Bimbia. The origin and genealogy of the Province of Victoria, now Limbe Division begin when  it became the panacea for the British mission amid the Spanish harassment at Fernando-Po during the 19^th century, whereto the British missionaries were stationed as their nucleus for their missionary work in West Africa and in especial for the freed slaves who had made the town of Clarence their home, and the British government as a base for their naval squadron from where their man o’ wars  patrolled the gulf of guinea to disrupt the trade in human slavery which had been abolished in England but was still the main trade in that area at that time. In 1843  the British Missionaries finally lost patience with the Spanish authorities when the Spanish Governor in charge of all the Islands belonging to Spain in West Africa   asserted its long standing claim of the island, planted the Spanish flag at Clarence, renamed the city Santa Isabel and proclaimed the Roman Catholic Church as the official religion of the Island. In 1958 he sent for Alfred Saker, the British Missionary and informed him that the protestant form of worship must cease. Saker then embarked on the task of finding a suitable place in Cameroon. He went to Bimbia and to its Chief, King Bile (King Williams) and negotiated to buy the parcel of land at Ambas Bay and in 1858 King Williams of Bimbia sold that part of Bimbia land to the British missionary Alfred Saker which the latter did acquire against a receipt and christened as Victoria in honour of his Monarch, the Queen Victoria of England. On Monday 09^th of august 1858, the Baptist community in Fernando-Po moved to Victoria and held their first public worship on Friday 13^th august 1858. Saker then set up a government and  drew up a constitution for Victoria with laws for the proper governing of Victoria, a town council and court for the administration of justice. Albeit dismembered from Bimbia, the British administration recognized the Bimbia traditional chieftain to permeate across the natives in Victoria, the children from some of the coverts at Bimbia, Bota, the emigrants and people from neighbouring villages. He administered Victoria till 1876 when he moved to his homeland for good. He was succeeded by George Grenfell (1877-1878) and Q. W. Thomson (1878-1884).  In 1884 following the 1882 appeal from the people of Victoria to obtain official recognition of their settlement by the British government, Edward Hyde Hewett the British Consul arrived at Ambas Bay (Victoria) and annexed Victoria on the 19^th of July 1884, a few days subsequent to the German annexation of Douala and Bimbia on the 14^th of July 1884 by Dr. Nactingal the German imperial Governor. The Germans later on in 1887 arrived at a consensus with the British missionaries of Victoria, and secured the purchase of Victoria from the Baptist missionaries who had bought the land from king Williams. The missionaries’ properties including churches and schools were bought by the Basel mission.  The new German Victoria district (Bezirk) eventually moved from being limited to Bimbia but to be included henceforth the whole area of the Cameroon mountain and consequently territories occupied by the Bakweris, Isubus, Wovea, Bamboko and Balong because of the trade exploitation potentials. In 1885 the Germans began exploiting the land and founded (Kamerun Land –Und Plantagen Gesellschaft) in Bimbia and (West Afrikaische Pflanzungsgeesellschaft) at Bibundi. Other concessions would later be procured for plantations across Cameroon. Due to the plantations, natives from the tribes of Bakweris, Isubus, Wovea, Bamboko and Balong became citizens of the German protectorate of Victoria. The original territory of the indigenous Isubu people of Victoria henceforth became blended with descendants of liberated slaves, brought by Alfred Saker, Bakweris from Kie and Mokindi, Wovia,Ngeme villages, bota mainland and island natives, Baongs from Balong in kumba and the Bambokos from Womboko,  who inhabited the opposite segment of the Cameroon mountain to kumba.  The Isubus are natives of Bimbia and Victoria. The Bakweris were natives of Wovea, Kie, Ngeme, Mokindi, Wovia. The Bamboko were natives of Womboko and the Balongs were natives of Balong. This federation of different villages to join the Isubu Bimbia and Victoria was to ease administration of the plantation segments and consequently distinguish from the Buea and Tiko segments. To fulfill their promise to the natives during annexation, the Germans created native courts in all villages to take care of native affairs and the Victoria council was the federal governing body. This was headed by the first King of Victoria, king Johannes  Nambeke Manga Williams. The German Protectorate Government of Cameroon had elected to acknowledge the descendant of King Williams of Bimbia, Johaness Nambeke Manga Williams who would become the first Chief of VICTORIA in 1908. That day, all the federated villages sang the veneration song ‘Manga kinga bosso’ meaning Manga, First king of Victoria. The Name Victoria was changed in parliament to Limbe in 1982 during the reign of His Majesty King Ferguson, son of King Johannes  Nambeke Manga Williams the 1^st King of Victoria Province.

2.   GENEALOGY OF LIMBE CHIEFTAIN:

As opposed to claims surrounding the genealogy and locus standi of the Manga Williams’ succession to the last Paramount Chief of Limbe who happens to be a Manga Williams, His Majesty King Bila Fergusson Manga Williams, such that the territoriality should feature in question, may it simply without much ado to unnecessary details be posited of the history which the archives of the nation beholds and every ear and eyes have scoured same.

1908. In respond to the German Protectorate government’s policy making Victoria the new capital of its administration shifting the hegemony from Bimbia, Victoria ceased to be traditionally governed from Bimbia by Mbimbi Makaka, half brother of King Williams II who ruled from 1882 when the latter was killed protecting Limbola against the Buea expansionists in a battle with the Bakwerians from Soppo.

1908: Victoria became home to its first Paramount Chief called King Johannes  Nambeke Manga Williams and his jurisdiction covered Bimbia along the fringes of the coast, West-ward towards the Mountain including federated villages of the Bakweris, Bambokos, Balongs.

Between 1908-1914: Chief Johannes  Nambeke Manga Williams signed many trade treaties with the Germans who installed many plantations and consequently warranted the region to regain its commercial hegemony once more.

1918-1928: Chief Manga Williams in addition to his numerous duties became the president of the court of Victoria after the First World War patronizing the native courts of the federated villages above mentioned.

 In 1928, King George the fifth of England granted him a certificate of recognition; Order of the British Empire (OBE)  for the valuable services rendered by him to his own country and the British Empire as having distinguished himself as President of the courts of Victoria.

In 1942, he became the representative of the whole trust territory of  the Cameroons which in those days included the Northern Cameroons in the Nigeria Legislative Council.

In 1946, he was appointed member of the Eastern House of Assembly

In 1954, when the Southern Cameroon House of Assembly was established, he was selected as  Native Administration member for Victoria Divisional Council.

In May 1951, he laid the foundation stone of the Cameroon Development Corporation during its creation and became the original member of the corporation.

In 1958, he was appointed by the British government to organize the celebration marking the 100 years anniversary of Victoria which were held for 7 days. It was during this occasion that the late Prime Minister of Nigeria, Sir Abubaka Tafaza Balewa laid the stone for the construction of the Victoria Centenary Stadium. Chief John Manga Williams poured the libation to the gods of Bimbia.

On the12^th of December 1958 during this occasion, the unveiling of the Alfred Saker monument at the SDO’s office Victoria was done. Those who assisted Chief Johannes  Nambeke Manga Williams to unveil the monuments were Sir James Robertson and Sir Abubaka Tafawa Balewa’. The procurement of the Alfred Saker monument proper which now rests beside the SDO’s office was tasked to and conveyed from his son; Prince Jesco Manga Williams whilst  he had taken abode in England.

When King Johannes  Nambeke Manga Williams died in 1959, Prince Jesco waived his right and proposed his junior brother, Fergusson Manga Williams who became Chief of Victoria.

Amongst the achievements of King Fergusson B. Manga Williams include the popularization of the spirit of minority and integration, advocacy for the preservation and protection of the indigenous lands especially those which were conceded by lease to the Germans and later inherited by the CDC.

During the privatization process of CDC, Chief Ferguson of Victoria and Chief Endeley of Buea fought hard to retain the provisions under which native lands were conceded to the Germans. Consequent to this and in fulfilling the legacy of a Paramount chief of the villages which the Manga Williams forebears presided, are the benefits natives have presently in the acquisition of native lands which CDC releases back to these erstwhile federated villages.

King Fergusson Manga Williams passed unto to Glory in 2005 and amongst the many persons who were calling on the Manga Williams descendants for  the succession to be immediate and forthwith were the Chiefs of the federated villages of Victoria such as the Isubus, the Bambokos, and the Bakweri in channels such as correspondences, newspapers and radio to name a few.

The Manga Williams amid subsequent niches internally and externally have finally overhauled the details and should be respected to the letter to acquit themselves quietly of an enstoolment.

If the above posits of genealogy wouldn’t snow ball memories, the following précis should for it goes without saying:

3.  ESTOPPEL

That the law governing Chieftaincy in Cameroon is absolute and the articles prescribed therein conforms with the methodology which the Colonial and National Govern0ments of Cameroon utilized in conferring the power of traditional rulership upon the Manga Williams in Limbe since 1908 in the absence of opposition to its incumbency and where pockets of distractions existed were settled absolutely to warrant the insurance that the law is not retrospective and does not backtrack statutes to determine present nominations and if such may be sought judicially, there exist statutes of limitations and probable cause. In the case of Limbe, no one should contemplate eligibility against the royal Manga Williams family of Limbe for the above clinical reasons.

Done at Limbe the 20^th day of April 2014

PRINCE JERRY NAMBEKE MANGA WILLIAMS

FOR THE MANGA WILLIAMS/NAMBEKE FAMILY

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